EDMONTON WILDCATS: HEAD COACH GARY DURCHIK
2009 RECORD: 6-2 2ND; WON PFC CHAMPIONSHIP 32-20 OVER SASKATOON, LOST
CANADIAN BOWL TO VAN. ISLAND RAIDERS 51-14
By Stuart Gibson, Edmonton Wildcats Media Coordinator
With a successful 6-2 campaign last year the Wildcats are determined to get back to the National Championship game in 2010 after a bitter defeat at the hands of the Vancouver Island Raiders in Nanaimo. This year’s Championship game will be hosted by the winner of the PFC Conference. The 2010 season will see the conference being more competitive than ever and the Wildcats will be focused on defending their title as PFC Champs.
The Wildcats will have many key veterans returning this year. Wide Receiver Jerit Lambert will be back for his 2nd year with the squad having set team records in several categories and picking up PFC & CJFL Rookie of the year honors in 2009 and should be one of the key factors in Sunday’s game. Wide Receiver Mitch Richter has developed into one of the Cats best receivers and will be called upon this year to fill the shoes of departing Wide Receiver Mike Wojcicki who has moved on to the CIS and the University of Alberta Golden Bears. Running Back and 4th year
veteran Justin McEvoy will be a force to be reckoned with this year and is posed to have a breakout season. The Cats have a solid core of veterans and rookies at the receiver and running back positions and should general lots of offense this year.
Rory Connop and Gabriel David will anchor the defense again this year, with Mike Podloski and Steven Rae establishing their presence in the secondary. Steven Giang will be a force on the D line again this year with a new face on the O Line in Scott Ledieu coming over from the U of A to shore up the offensive front 5. Veteran returning Defensive Backs Miguel Barker and David Berg will solidify the corners on defense while Cole Bishop will be taking over the reins at the safety position for the departing Corbin Sharun who has moved on to play with The Edmonton
Eskimos this year. With the departure of QB Andy Pilon, having had a successful 5 year career with the Cats, 2nd year QB Adam Senik is in position to take over the helm at the pivot position this season. Adam has developed into a strong Quarterback and is set to carry the Wildcats into the 2010 campaign.
This year looks very positive for the Wildcats, with a good crop of rookies and returning veterans. The players are eager to get the season underway and are looking forward to the season opener against the Regina Thunder on Sunday.
SASKATOON HILLTOPS: HEAD COACH TOM SERGEANT
2009 RECORD 7-1, 1ST LOST PFC CHAMPIONSHIP 32-20 TO EDMONTON WILDCATS
By Don McDonald, Hilltops Media Coordinator
The Hilltops enter the 2010 campaign with an air of great optimism, hungry to return to the top
following a 32-20 PFC Championship game loss to the Edmonton Wildcats. On defense, 5th year LB & team captain Corbin Eskelson (105 DPTS, 5th in PFC) is the undisputed leader who brings fire & intensity. Fellow 5th year LB Scott Splawinski along with sophomore Brett Pisio (43 DPTS) will provide the pass rush as well as keep the opposition’s ground game in check.
A pair of 4th year players, S Graig Newman (78 DPTS, 2 INT), along with CB Mike Prebble (48 DPTS, 4 INT) are expected to have big seasons. Both are big, physical athletes who will be called upon to put the brakes on opposing offenses.
On offense, the Toppers will be led by All-Canadian RB Regan Schuler (819 YDS, 1st in PFC). Schuler will be getting the ball in various formations that have been tailored to his speed & skill set. QB Jordan Penner was among 11 Hilltop grads in the off-season, so 4th-year pivot Chase Bradshaw (62/112, 1022, 11 TD, 2 INT, 111.5 EFF) who started 3 games in ’09, guides the offense. Bradshaw has a trio of 5th-year lineman in C Chris Hengen-Braun, G Anthony Dale
and T Joel Hrycyk to keep opposition defenses at bay. All three are dominant run blockers and great team leaders.
The receiving corps is led by 5th-year pass catchers Clayton Garnett and Ian Miller (14, 390 YDS, 2TDS, 27.9 YD AVG) as Head Coach Tom Sargeant looks to these proven playmakers to rise to the occasion all season long. On special teams, Kit Hillis (7 KOR, 144 YDS, 20.6 YD AVG) will be the key returner. His 94 yard return for a TD in the conference final loss to the Wildcats was the 7th longest in CJFL playoff history. The kicking game is still a workin-progress however.
CALGARY COLTS: HEAD COACH KEITH KENDAL
2009 RECORD 5-3, 3RD, LOST SEMI-FINAL 35-20 TO EDMONTON WILDCATS
By Todd Kimberley, Calgary Colts Media Coordinator
The Calgary Colts hope to continue their renaissance by earning a spot in Prairie Football
Conference playoffs for the third straight year. In 2009, a very young Colts crew won four of its first five games before finishing with a 5-3 record and dropping a PFC semi-final to the Edmonton Wildcats by a 35-20 count.
With eight returning starters on each side of the ball, the Colts coaching staff expects a year of seasoning will pay off for the club’s throng of second- and third-year players this campaign. The club kicks off its season Aug. 21 in Edmonton against the Huskies, and doesn’t play its home opener until Sept. 12 against the Wildcats.
RETURNING PLAYERS: Playing a leadership role for the Colts this year will be the likes of fifth-year OT Spencer Wilson (who attended Calgary Stampeders training camp as a non-roster invite), fifth-year SB Ryan McDermit, CB Alex Saretsky, third-year DHB Tom Knitter, and fifth-year LB Zach McNeill.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Massive OG Bart Archdekin, a former draft pick of the B.C. Lions, has returned to his hometown after four years at Minot State for one last junior season. DE Prince Baffoh has crossed over the Rockies after two years with the BCFC’s Vancouver Trojans. WR Josiah Caouette has unexpectedly turned heads as a pass grabbing rookie, while freshman DE Richard Slack is pushing for playing time on the defensive line.
MOVING ON: WR Ty Hinds (Manitoba, CIS), OL Matt Kuhnen (Concordia, CIS), DL Mike Forzani (Calgary, CIS), DE Matt Meyer (Concordia, CIS), and DE Ben Rush (Saskatchewan, CIS), the 2009 CJFL sacks leader, will be suiting up in the ranks of varsity. The immediate future of WR Tom Shaw was unclear on the eve of the season; he’s still waiting for word from Alberta (CIS) on his academic eligibility.
2010 OUTLOOK: The Colts might have been a one-trick pony in recent years, in other words; a pass-happy bunch but coaches expect massive improvement.
HEAD COACH: ERWIN KLEMPNER
2009 RECORD 5-3, 4TH, LOST SEMI-FINAL 30-24 TO SASKATOON
By Rosanne McCall, Regina Thunder Media Coordinator
The Regina Thunder is looking to capitalize on the last 4 years of rebuilding. Last year ended with a disappointing loss to the Saskatoon Hilltops in the semi-finals. The team will be led on offense by the 2009 PFC’s Most Valuable Player, Quarterback Reid Quest. He along with the
rest of the veterans worked very hard in the off season determined to come back bigger, stronger and faster. The offensive line will be anchored by Dan Clark who is returning after a one year absence while practicing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The receiving corps will be the same group that finished last season. Receivers Jay Smith and 2009 CJFL All Canadian, Kolten Solomon hope to continue on last year’s great numbers. The running attack will
be lead by 5th year player Mark Coons. With a strong supporting cast of receivers and running backs the Thunder’s offense should get on a roll quickly.
They say defense wins championships. The Thunder coaching staff is counting on this veteran group to keep opposing teams in check. Leading the way will be 5th year All Canadian Defensive back, Cody Johnstone. The linebacking crew features 4th and 5th year players Tyler Hogan, Travis Junior, Philmon Bairu, Taylor Cameron and Will Kyle. 2009 PFC Rookie All Star Defensive Lineman, Zach Evans and 4th year Max Amyotte will be the key components to the defensive line. Building on last year’s strong performance is the goal of this veteran group.
Erwin Klempner, 2009 PFC Coach of the year, is very excited about this season as he feels that it is the most competitive Thunder team since taking over the reins in 2006.
WINNIPEG RIFLES HEAD COACH: GREG GRACEFFO
2009 RECORD 1-7, 5TH, MISSED PLAYOFFS
BY TOM HALLICK, WINNIPEG RIFLES MEDIA RELATIONS DIRECTOR
Ask just about any returning Rifle veteran about the 2009 season and to a man you will likely get this answer, it was a nightmare. A nightmare that began with the defense conceding 52 first half points in a home opener played in monsoon conditions to the eventual PFC champions Edmonton Wildcats and ended with a coaching change at the end of the campaign.
Greg Graceffo was named as the new head coach in November and his immediate task at hand is getting the Green Gunners back into the playoffs. For that to happen, they have to unseat one of four very strong conference foes in the Wildcats, Saskatoon Hilltops, Regina Thunder and Calgary Colts. The new man at the helm isn’t totally unfamiliar using sleight of hand as he guided Team Manitoba to a U-17 national championship win in 2005.
WELCOME BACK:
LB Eric Vincent (76 DPTS) returns for his 5th and final campaign in Rifle green. WR Matt Lariviere (34 Catches, 432 YDS, 6 TD’s) had a fine rookie campaign. RB Kienan Lafrance (485 YDS, 3TD’s) returns for his sophomore season. LB Mike Hauptkorn (75 DPTS) was a co-winner of Rookie LB of the Year honors with Saskatoon’s Dylan Kemp. QB Ryan Marsch who will battle Tyler Nickel for the starter’s job. Marsch proved himself in ’09, coming off the bench to
help the Rifles get their lone win & provided quality starts when called upon, while Nickel aims to regain the job he won in ’09. DB Andrew Phan (36 DPTS) is back for his 2nd and final season.
WELCOME ABOARD:
OL Nevin Gamblin (Neelin HS, Brandon, 6’6, 304) impressed mightily in spring camp. FB Adam Kuzbyt who will challenge incumbents Darrell Kahlian and Brian Giesbrecht. Kuzbyt joins the Rifles from the University of Windsor Lancers by way of the Maples Marauders HS program. OL Ray Thornson (Big Kahuna Rams, BCFC, 6’1, 330) joins the Green Gunners from the left coast.
ADIOS AMIGOS:
WR Marsh Burnett-Joseph (15 Catches, 322 YDS), S Matt Arnold (Manitoba, CIS), OL Tyler Fabbri (Manitoba, CIS), LB Chris Laubenstein (Manitoba, CIS), K/P John Szilagyi (40 PTS, 5th in PFC), OL Scott Parker (2009 PFC All-Star)
THE BOSS SAYS:
In order for the Rifles to make the playoffs, improvement in a lot of areas is a must. The commitment level especially, must be there each & every week.
2010 OUTLOOK:
Optimism reigns supreme about hosting a playoff game in October, but in order to do so, a quick start out of the blocks is essential. Should the Rifles be able to take both ends of an early season back-to-back set against the Edmonton Huskies, it would provide a huge boost toward achieving that goal. As stated before, if the Rifles have designs on postseason play, they’ll have to unseat one of four formidable conference foes.
EDMONTON HUSKIES: HEAD COACH BILL MCDERMOTT
2009 RECORD 0-8, 6TH, MISSED PLAYOFFS
By Brian Swane, Edmonton Examiner Sports
It has been nearly 35 months since the Edmonton Huskies last won a game, a ghastly streak that includes consecutive 0-8 seasons. Even before his Huskies took the field for a pair of exhibition scrimmages last weekend, new head coach Bill MacDermott was thinking positively. The former Eskimos offensive coordinator is going to battle with a revamped staff that includes former Eskimo Rick Walters as offensive coordinator.
“Our coaches have done a great job of getting people ready,” MacDermott said. “I like (the players’) attitude, I like their ability. The only thing we can’t get a feel on right now is performance. How are they going to perform?” When asked who his key players would be this season, MacDermott was adamant in naming only one: All-Canadian linebacker Korey Johnson, who led all of Canadian junior football in tackles last season, a shining performance even as
the Wildcats perpetuated their losing streak that now nears 20 games.
Though he has recruits like Ardrossan high school star pivot Trevor Erdmann, one can’t blame MacDermott for not wanting to create conjecture. After all, newcomers populate his depth chart. “I don’t really look at it that way, but I will have a lot of first-year players,” MacDermott said. “We’ll be young, but we’ll be eager, and yet we still have to be led by the veteran leadership of the guys who are here.” For the Huskies, there’s literally just one way to go, and that’s up.
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